Four-edge moistener



Jan. 18, 1944. D. RoBERTs 2,339,585

FOUR-EDGE MoIs'rENER Filed March 5, 1942 .Ez 3mm @$555 ,/aazfz'a? aers s M y .vw M

Patented Jan. 18, 1944 UNTED STATES FATE orties 2 Claims.

rIhis invention relates to a gummed label or sticker moistening device.

An object of this invention is to provide a moistener for use particularly in moistening all four edges of a sticker, such as a sticker used with election ballots or other articles.

Another object of this invention is to provide a moistening device of this kind which includes a stationary base member formed with upstanding rectangularly arranged ribs or seats on which a sticker is adapted to be mounted with the gummed portion thereof uppermost, and a swingabie or hinged moistening member which is adapted to be swung to a superposed position over the label in order that the marginal edge portions of the label may be properly moistened in a single operation without moistening of the entire area of the label.

A further object of this invention is to provide a moistening device of this kind which is simple in construction and which is manually operable and may easily be transported to the desired po* sition.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of this kind which being simple in construction will not get out of order readily and may be manufactured at a Very small cost.

To the foregoing objects and to others which might appear hereinafter, the invention consists of a novelconstruction,combination and arrangeiations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a detail top plan of a moistener constructed according to an embodiment of this invention and showing the moistener iii-open position,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section similar to Figure 2 but showing the device in closed or sticker moistening position, and

Figure 4 is a detail front elevation of the device in closed or operative position.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral I3 designates generally a base structure which is in the form of a rectangular block. The base i3 has formed integral `therewith on the upper side inner and outer upstanding ribs or flanges II and I2, respectively, and is also formed with upstanding side ribs or flanges i3 and I. The inner rib II is inwardly offset from the inner or rear end I5 of the base I, thereby forming a transversely extending rabbet or recess I6.

The area within the inner marginal portions of the ribs Ii, I2, I3 and it forms a chamber Il across which a label or sticker S is adapted to engage.

A hinged or movable moistening member, generally designated as i3, is hingedly secured to the base block iii by means of a hinge member I9. Une leaf 2l) of the hinge i3 is secured by means of a screw or other fastening member 2l to the rear side of the base I9 and the other leaf 22 is secured by means of a screw or other fastening de-v vice 23 tothe adjacent edge of the moistening member I8,

The moistening member comprises a substantially closed block or body 24 which is of a size y v substantially equal to the size of the base IIJ.

The moistening block member 2d has Xed to the rear edge thereof a flat strip 25 which forms an upstanding flange 25 with respect to the rear edge of the block 2li. A forward strip 21 is secured in any suitable manner to the forward edge of the block 24 and has one edge thereof extending upwardly from the adjacent face of the block 2li, thereby forming an upstanding front flange 2S. A pair of side flange forming strips 29 and 33 are secured to the opposite side edges of the block 2li and form upst'anding flanges co-planar with the flanges 25 and 28. The flanges 28, 28, 23 and 33 form a moistening chamber 3| in the lower side of the block 2d within which a moistening element generally designated as 32 is adapted to engage.

The moistening element 32 includes a rear fabric strip 33, a front fabric strip 34 and side fabric strips 35 and 36. The strips 33, 34, 35 and 36 are adapted to be saturated with water or other moistening means and these strips are adapted to be glued or otherwise secured to the lower face 3l of the block 24. The area defined by the strips 33, 34, 35 and 33 is substantially equal to the area of the flanges II, I2, I3 and I4 so that when the moistening member I8 is in a superposed position, which is the position shown in Figure 3, the moistening element 32 will overlie the upper faces of the flanges I I, I2, I3 and I4.

In the use and operation of this moistening device, the label or sticker S is positioned on the upper faces of the flanges II, I2, I3 and I4 with the gummed portion thereof uppermost. The moistening member IB is then swung upwardly and forwardly to position the moistening element 32 in contact with the gummed side of the sticker S. The moistening element 32 will thereby moisten the gum on the sticker about the marginal portions of the sticker so that the sticker may then be lifted oi of the base lil and applied to the desired article. In the event the gummed side of the label should stick to the moistening element 32, the label or sticker S can readily be released by inserting a finger in the opening 38.

By providing the chamber l1 within the area of the flanges I I, I2, I3 and I4, the label or sticker S may be easily removed from the base l by pressing the central portion of the sticker S into f the chamber l1, thereby raising the marginal edge portions of the sticker in order to permit ready grasping of the sticker Without contact of a iinger with the moistened portion of the gum. This moistening device may be made out of wood or other suitable material and being relatively small is easily portable and will thoroughly meisten the label or sticker about the marginal edge portions thereof without undue moisture and, at the same time, the amount of moisture applied to lthe sticker will be such as to permit the removal of the sticker from the device Without contact of the fingers with the moistened portion of the sticker.

The front ange 28 is preferably provided with a cutout l38 forming a iinger opening which is sufficiently deep to expose a portion of the front edge of the fabric moistening strip 34. By providing this nger opening or recess 38, the hinged block section I3 may, if desired, be used as a base, and the block member I0 used as a top or presser element for pressing the gummed label on top ofthe moistening pad structure 32. The provision of the finger opening 38 is for the insertion of a nger to grasp the adjacent edge of the sticker S which may rest on the upper side of the moistening pad 32.

When the block member i8 is used as a base, the marginal flanges 25, 21, 29 and 30 provide a centering and retaining means for holding the sticker against lateral and endWise movement and for positioning the sticker in the proper position with respect to the moistening pad 32.

What I claim is:

1. A sticker moistening device comprising a pair of body members, means hingedly securing said members together, upstanding ribs carried by one of said members about the marginal edges thereof, marginal flanges carried by the other of 'said members and engageable about said ribs when said members are in operative moistening position, and a rectangular shaped moistening pad xed to said other member within said ilanges.

2. A sticker moistening device comprising a pair of body members, means hingedly securing said members together, upstanding ribs carried by one of said members about the marginal edges thereof, marginal flanges carried by the other of said members and engageable about said ribs when said members are in operative moistening position, one of said flanges having a finger recess therein of a depth to expose a portion of said moistening pad and thereby facilitate the release of a gummed label engaging said pad, and a rectangular shaped moistening pad xed to said other member within said flanges.

DAVID ROBERTS. 

